Political scandals are as old as politics itself. Sex, greed and self-importance often go hand-in-hand with power, money and cronyism, causing many a politician to stray from the straight and narrow. When the dirty details come out, the voters fume, comedians laugh and politicians blush.

Some scandals, such as extramarital affairs, are merely personal -- these may be mostly just embarrassing for the parties involved. Others involve wrongful death or an abuse of power at the highest level. These types of scandals can cripple even the most promising careers.

The Greeks had a word for it: hubris. It means the arrogance that leads to ruin. Thinking they are above the law or immune from any consequences, politicians sometimes take actions that prove to be self-destructive.

Political scandals happen all over the world, and many are as outrageous as any soap opera. This list takes a look at 10 of the most infamous ones.